Within Crafting Futures, we will launch the first large-scale survey in 2026 to map the experiences of makers in Flanders and Brussels.
With this survey, we aim to gain a better understanding of the world of makers in the broadest sense of the word: how they organize their practice, what meaning the creative process holds for them, and what challenges they face.
By systematically collecting needs and experiences within the field, Crafting Futures aims to develop targeted tools and policy recommendations that align with the reality of the makers themselves. By directly interviewing experts in the field, we are building a shared knowledge base and creating support for strengthening the position of makers within society.
This survey aligns with previous research findings within Crafting Futures, which focus on three key dimensions that influence the work and development of makers: entrepreneurship, craft education and knowledge transfer, and the role of makerspaces and other organizational forms that facilitate making.
This research reveals, among other things, that artisan makers often seek ways to translate the value of their knowledge and skills into products and services that are also economically recognized. Many combine various strategies and sources of income to make their practice financially sustainable.
Additionally, the research shows that the field of makerspaces is strongly developing, but is also characterized by fragmentation and a lack of transparency regarding funding and policy. Both organizations and policy actors are searching for their role and position. This leads to a complex landscape in which makerspaces must find their way between different policy domains and support frameworks, each with its own priorities and logics. At the same time, this dynamic offers opportunities to further strengthen the societal appreciation of maker practices.
Practices within the domain of craft education are also under pressure. Practice-oriented training is disappearing from curricula, specializations are being phased out, and many training initiatives operate in a context of limited resources and uncertainty. This jeopardizes not only the preservation of valuable knowledge and techniques but also the development opportunities for future generations of makers. With this survey, we aim to further deepen these insights and supplement them with current experiences from the field.
Completing the questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes. Your answers will be treated with complete confidentiality and used exclusively for research purposes. The survey is available in Dutch, French, and English.
Do you know other makers or organizations in the field? Please be sure to share this call within your network and help strengthen the position of makers in Flanders and Brussels.